Suction cleaner



Sept, 28 1926.

A. A. SERVA SUCTI ON CLEANER Filed Nov. 5, .1923

i? I E1n ma 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 )Patented ept. 2%, 1926.

ADAM A. SERVE., 0F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE 'UNITED ELECTRIC COMPANY,

, i 0F CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORA'ION lOF OHIO` SUCTION CLEANER.

Application filed November 3, 1923. Serial No. 672,624.

This invention relates to suction cleaners commonly used for cleaning carpets and floors, in which the cleaning action is performed by air currents caused by suction into the mouth o-f the nozzle or tool ofthe machine, which may be suppleme-nted by a a brush serving to sweep the surface over .which the cleaner is moved.

Inmachines of this character, the cleaning mouth of the nozzle or tool usually comprlses an elongated slot or opening which may have a substantial width, the rim thereof being normally held in sealing contact with the carpet, compelling the air to .pass through the carpet to the mouth; and when the contact between the rim and the carpet is broken, a portion or all of the air may pass over the carpet and beneath the rim of the mouth.

The objects of the present improvement are to provide means in the mouth of the nozzle or cleaning tool, adjacent to and parallel with each .lip of the rim of the mouth and arranged to be alternately protruded from the plane of the lips for causing the carpet to impinge the same and the rearmost lip of the mouth, and raising the forwardly moving lipI of the mouth free of contact with the carpet or`floor Ifor the full width of the nozzle or tool for receiving surface dirt, and other refuse which are dislodged by the brush and the in-rushing a1r.

The above and other objects may be ator cleaning tool in the form of an elongated opening or slot, a shaft being journaled through the longitudinal center of the nozzle and carrying two longitudinal brushes located adjacent to the forward and rear lips of the mouth; means being provided for rocking the shaft by the operation of the cleaner u on the Hoor or carpet, whereby each brush 1s alternately protruded below the adjacent lip of the mouth, when the same becomes the forward lip in the movement of the nozzle, permitting the air to be drawn beneath said lip and into the mouth, causing surface dirt to be dislodged and dra'wn into the mouthwithv the in-rushin air, the carpet being substantially seale across the mouth between the brush and the rearmost lip, compelling the air to be drawn through the carpet between the same.

tained by shaping the mouth of the nozzle .journaled upon the spring pressed The invention thus set forth in a general way may be embodied in the form of a device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention, the nozzle being shownin section, showing the position of the brushes upon th-e forward movement of the cleaner 5 Fig. 2, a similar view showing the position of the brushes upon the rear movement f of the cleaner;`

Fig. 3, a bottom plan view of the mouth of he cleaner, parts being broken in section; an

Fig. 4, a detail perspective View of one member of the spring clutch.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the drawings. j

The casing of the machine includes the cylindric fan chamber 1 .and the .forwardly extending vacuum chamber 2 below the fan chamber. and communicating therewith in the usual manner, for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber into the fan chamber through the action of the usual fan which parts Amay be driven in any usual manner as by an electric motor 3.

The nozzle 4 communicates with thel forward end of the vacuum chamber, being transversely elongated upon opposite sides thereof and arranged to be supported upon or adjacent to the carpet A by means of the usual wheels 5 and 6. The elongated mouth of the nozzle includes the front and rear lips 7 and 8 respectively.

- A pair of longitudinal brushes 9 and 10 .are connected in parallel relation by the plates -11 and 12 forming an oscillatable frame. The plate 11 is` provided with a cylindric bearing member 13 which may pm e 14 carried in one lend ofthe mouth, the plate plate 12 having a friction disk 15- upon its outer side and being provided with the journal member'l journaled in the bearing sleeve 17 upon the end of the rotatable shaft 18, which isl provided with a pulle 19 connected byl the belt 20 with the a jacent wheel 5. l

The sleeve 17 is rovided with the spring fingers 21 which frictionally engage the friction disk 15 upon the plate 12'. Stop pins 22 j and 23 are provided 1n the vfront and rear portions respectively of the mouth and arranged to limit the downward movement of the brushes 9 and 10 respectively.

lVhen the cleaner is moved forward upon the floor, as shown in Fig. 1, the action of the belt 2O will lower the forward brush 9, protruding the same beneath the plane of the nozzle and into engagement with the carpet, the pin 22 limiting the downward movement thereof and preventing the spring clutch from further rotating the brushes, while the rear brush 10 will be raised above the plane of the rim of the nozzle.

The rear lip 8 will thus be held in sealing contact with the carpet when the same is drawn up by the reduced pressure within the nozzle and the front lip 7 will be held out of contact with the carpet by means of the forward brush 9.

The strong suction of the fan will thus draw cleaning currents of air from under and through the carpet between the brush 9 and the rear lip 8, while` a positive air current will be drawing under the forward lip of the mouth along the surface of the carpet, for not only drawing in particles of refuse, but sweeping over the surface of the carpet under the front lip of the nozzle.

As the movement of the cleaner upon the fioor is reversed, the forward brush will be raised and the rear brush lowered into engagement with the carpet, permitting sealing Contact between the rear brush and forward lip and holding the rear lip out or" contact with the carpet.

Thus as the cleaner is moved in each direc-,tion upon the carpet, the brush upon the adjacent side of the nozzle will hold the adjacent lip out of engagement with the carpet, permitting air currents to be drawn over the surface of the carpet and under said lip, while the other lip is held in sealing contact with the carpet and the brush which is in lowered position, will sweep the surface of the carpet over which it passes.

The tan serves to maintain a constant suction through the cleaning mouth, and when the same is applied to a carpet or other fabric, the power is so proportioned that in addition to drawing cleaning currents of air from under and through the car et, a locally intensified current of air is rawn under the lip of the nozzle upon the side toward which the cleaner is moving, over the surface of the carpet and within the mouth of the cleaner, and by carrying all the dust and surface litter immediately to and through the exhaust orifice, the formation of inactive air pockets in either side of the nozzle is prevented, consequently preventing settling of dust and dirt therein.

l. A suction cleaner casing having an elongated mouth with rim lips adapted to be presented to a carpet or the like, an oscillatable frame mounted in the mouth, a brush mounted upon the frame adjacent to each of the elongated lips, a pulley, spring finders operatively connected to the pulley and rictionally engaging the frame, a belt connected to the pulley rfior rotating the same by the movement of the cleaner upon the floor, whereby one brush is held in contact with the carpet as the cleaner is moved in one direction and the other brush is held in contact with the carpet as the cleaner moves in the opposite direction.

2. A suction cleaner casing having an elongated mouthw-ith rim lips' adaptedl to be presented to a carpet or the like, an oscillatable frame mounted in the mouth, a brush mounted upon the frame adjacent to each of the elongated lips, a ulley, a shaft Xed to the pulley, a sleeve Xed upon the shaft, a plurality ofv spring fingers upon the sleeve frictionally engaginn the frame, a belt connected to the pulley Lfor rotating the same by t-he movement of the cleaner upon the floor, whereby the forward brush is held in contact with the carpet as the cleaner moves forward and the rear brush is held in contact with the carpet as the cleaner moves rearwar 3. A suction cleaner casing hav-ing an elon-j gated month with rim lips adapted to be presented to a car t or the like, an oscillatable frame mounte in the mouth, a brush mounted upon the frame adjacent to each of the elongated lips, a pulley ,'fricti'onally connected. to the frame, a belt connected to the pulley for rotating the same by the movement of the cleaner upon the floor, whereby one brush is held in contact with the carpet as the cleaner is moved in one direction and the other brush is held in contact with the carpet as the cleaner moves in the opposite direction.

ADAM A. SERVA. 

